As Typhoon Mangkhut swirled away from the Marianas leaving a path of toppled trees, downed power lines and scattered debris, Guam residents were advised to stay indoors and wait for officials to give the all-clear.

As of 1 a.m. Tuesday the storm was moving away from the islands, but gusty winds, rain and hazardous seas remained.

While some roads were relatively clear, a large tree blocked northbound lanes of Route 4 heading into Hagåtña. On Nimitz Hill, downed trees obstructed both sides of Route 6. Traffic signals and street lights were out.

Heavy rainfall was expected to continue for much of the night, according to Landon Aydlett, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Guam.

“We ask that people shelter in place and don’t venture out at least until sunrise Tuesday,” Aydlett said. “We don’t want people out in the street before sunrise because there’s likely going to be a lot of debris out there, flooded streets. You just don’t want to be out there.”

3 to 4 inches of rain in four hours

Early predictions had Mangkhut developing into a possible category 3 or category 4 typhoon by the time it reached the Marianas, but by 8 p.m. Monday, at its closest point of approach to Guam Mangkhut was a Category 2 typhoon.

Typhoon force winds were confined near Rota and north of Guam, which was good news, Aydlett said at a weather briefing at Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense.

Guam logged about 3 inches of rain between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Monday, and there will be another 5 to 7 inches of by about sunrise Tuesday, Aydlett said.

There has been flash flooding reported in southern Guam, and there’s a flash flood warning in effect until Tuesday.

Stay out of ocean

While rain and wind conditions may improve on land when the sun rises Tuesday, the seas will remain hazardous and residents should stay out of the ocean, Aydlett said.

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The National Weather Service office lost island power Monday night but continued their mission tracking the weather while running on generator power. “We are fully operation. All hands are on deck,” Aydlett said. “We’re here to see this through its duration.”

Widespread power outages were reported across the island. GPA crews were taken off the streets by 5:15 p.m. Monday because of the dangerous weather, and they were not supposed to resume restoration efforts until conditions improved.

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After forecasters cautioned that northern Guam would likely experience the strongest effects of the typhoon, and shelters began filling to capacity Sunday night.

2,100 people in shelters

Guam Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez said as of 6 p.m. Monday there were more than 2,100 people, roughly 45 percent of them children, at the various shelters.

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As of 6pm, @GuamDOE was sheltering over 2,100 people (roughly 45% are children) at 15 schools. We have 93 employees deployed at schools to manage shelters and a handful coordinating with Homeland Securty. Thank you, GPD and Mayors for your support. Stay safe, everyone!

The department has 93 employees working at the various schools managing the shelters and a handful coordinating with Homeland Security, he said.

By early afternoon Monday, five shelters of seven northern shelters were completely full, and emergency managers said the island's total shelter capacity was above 50 percent. Almost half of those in shelters were children.

Yigo resident Pete Peraja uses an old mop handle to paddle a makeshift raft through a flooded neighborhood off East Gayinero, in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut on Sept. 11. His family remained on the upper floor of their home, shown behind him Tuesday morning. Rick Cruz/PDN

Water from a ponding basin overflows into the neighborhood of Marianas Terrace in Yigo on Sept. 11, 2018, after Typhoon Mangkhut. Yigo Mayor Rudy Matanane said is looking to work on a solution with Department of Public Works. Rick Cruz/PDN

Yigo resident Pete Peraja uses an old mop handle to paddle a makeshift raft through a flooded neighborhood off East Gayinero, in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut on Sept. 11. His family remained on the upper floor of their home, shown behind him Tuesday morning. Rick Cruz/PDN

Water from a ponding basin overflows into the neighborhood of Marianas Terrace in Yigo on Sept. 11, 2018, after Typhoon Mangkhut. Yigo Mayor Rudy Matanane said he is looking to work on a solution with Department of Public Works. Rick Cruz/PDN